Guildford City (0) 2, Banstead Athletic (1) 2
by Barry Underwood
Guildford and Banstead claimed a point a piece at the Spectrum in a typical end of season encounter. It was a strange first half of football with the Guildford side conceding territory and defending their goal from the halfway line. Banstead meanwhile were content to build the play up slowly and truth be told the first 45 minutes won’t live long in the memory. Early on Billy Connor boldly attempted a long-range attempt from halfway that went wide, and the same player saw an early effort clear the bar. Play sparked to life just prior to the interval and it was Banstead at the heart of the action. Jack Coleman saved well with his legs after a long through ball gave Brandon McCarthy an opening. Banstead then looked to have a good shout for a penalty but the referee who was well placed waved play on. Then on the stroke of half-time the visitors took the lead. Jamie Nwuuba was in space on the right, and he had time to shoot home inside the far post.
The game improved as a spectacle after the break. The game was more open, and it was Banstead who still threatened the most. Had their finishing matched their build up they would have put the game to bed. Two efforts were sliced wide, and twice the visitors hit the woodwork with the first of these attempts hitting the inside of the post and bouncing back into Jack Coleman’s arms. With ten minutes of the match remaining City scored what had seemed an unlikely equaliser. Adam Williams gave Billy Connor the chance to take the ball into the box where he fired low into the corner of the net. A draw seemed a satisfactory way of concluding what had been a roller coaster of a season. Then with a minute remaining Banstead spectacularly scored what everyone assumed was a late winner. A cross from the right was met on the volley by Brandon McCarthy and his effort rocketed past Jack Coleman into the net. But fair play to Guildford for not giving the game up. Two minutes into stoppage time Adam Green’s free kick was turned home by Nat Mensah for his 18th goal of the season and honours at the Spectrum were shared.
Team: Jack Coleman, Adam Green, Kyrell Palmer, Kailan North, Lawson Bright, Liam Maher, Billy Connor, Lewis Inglis (Campbell Scott 46), Nathaniel Mensah, Zac Seys (Adam Williams 56), Faris Khallouqi. Unused subs: Sam Drew, Connor Gray, Jackson Hogg.
Referee: Colin Wordsworth
Attendance – 87
